November 8, 1995
The publication in May 1994 of the apostolic letter Ordinatio
Sacerdotalis was followed by a number of problematic and negative
statements by certain theologians, organizations of priests and
religious, as well as some associations of lay people. These reactions
attempted to cast doubt on the definitive character of the letter's
teaching on the inadmissibility of women to the ministerial priesthood
and also questioned whether this teaching belonged to the deposit of
the faith.

This congregation therefore has judged it necessary to dispel the
doubts and reservations that have arisen by issuing a responsum ad
dubium, which the Holy Father has approved and ordered to be published
(cf. enclosure).

In asking you to bring this responsum to the attention of the bishops
of your episcopal conference before its official publication, this
dicastery is confident that the conference itself, as well as the
individual bishops, will do everything possible to ensure its
distribution and favorable reception, taking particular care that,
above all on the part of theologians, pastors of souls and religious,
ambiguous and contrary positions will not again be proposed.

The text of the responsum is to remain confidential until the date of
its publication in L'Osservatore Romano, which is expected to be the
18th of November.

With gratitude for your assistance and with prayerful best wishes I
remain,

Dubium: Whether the teaching that the Church has no authority
whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women, which is presented
in the Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis to be held definitively,
is to be understood as belonging to the deposit of faith.

Responsum: In the affirmative.
This teaching requires definitive assent, since, founded on the written
Word of God, and from the beginning constantly preserved and applied in
the Tradition of the Church, it has been set forth infallibly by the
ordinary and universal Magisterium (cf. Second Vatican Council,
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium 25, 2). Thus, in the
present circumstances, the Roman Pontiff, exercising his proper office
of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32), has handed on this same
teaching by a formal declaration, explicitly stating what is to be held
always, everywhere, and by all, as belonging to the deposit of the
faith.

The Sovereign Pontiff John Paul II, at the Audience granted to the
undersigned Cardinal Prefect, approved this Reply, adopted in the
ordinary session of this Congregation, and ordered it to be published.

Rome, from the offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, on the Feast of the Apostles SS. Simon and Jude, October 28,
1995.